“Why do people drive from all over the Bay Area to see a doctor who cures no one?”

I know that that sounds kind of strange, but it’s true! It’s not only true, but it’s how I’ll help you like you’ve never been helped before.

I understand. You’ve been trained to think that your doctor heals you, cures you. And what he or she says cannot be cured, it’s OK that those conditions and pains just be maintained and managed. Maybe it’s NOT really OK.

A little background… When I was little, I idolized the doctor. (No pediatrician in those days, just the family doc, the GP.) I used to watch “Dr. Kildaire” and “Ben Casey” on TV, with a Merck Manual, a medical dictionary amd a notebook. From the age of 7 or 8, I dreamed of becoming a medical doctor.

Just as I was beginning my college pre-med studies, I hurt my back lifting a patient. (I was working as a hospital orderly.) I went to the orthopedist, who diagnosed “spondylolisthesis.” Not one, not two, but three of my lumbar (low back) vertebrae were each in two pieces instead of one. VERY UNSTABLE. I was prescribed Darvon 65 Compound, the Oxycontin of that day, and told that I would be back for a total lumbar fusion by the time I was 30 or 40, presumably to be “cured.”

The episodes of extreme pain would come and go. I finished college pre-med, and went on to medical school. Home from the second year, it all HIT THE FAN! I wasn’t 30 or 40. I was only 23. Horrible back pain, bent over, pain going down both legs, losing control of my bladder. (If your doctor never explained how spinal problems effect nerves that not only carry pain, but also carry messages to organs, I’d look for a different doctor. Somebody was asleep in school.)

Then a friend told me to go to a different kind of doctor, a chiropractor. I said: “What are you kidding? I’m a medical student. Those guys are quacks.” But, then, I got to wondering who were the real quacks. Finally, with a whole lot of doubt and fear, I went to this chiropractor. He actually listened to me! I could tell, right away, that he really cared! He gave me THE most thorough exam I ever had in my life, X-rayed my spine, and explained everything. I got my first adjustment. I got up from the table, straight and pain-free, for the first time in many, many months. I quit med school and enrolled in chiropractic college.

Let me tell you about my son, Abraham (the little guy in the pack). I checked him for nerve interference five minutes or so after birth, and gave him his first, very gentle chiropractic adjustment. (Getting born is one of the most traumatic events to the spine that we’ll ever have, especially to the neck.) He smiled. When Abraham was in school with kids his age, and everyone was getting sick, he didn’t. If he felt a little off, he’d say “Daddy, adjust me,” and he’d be fine in about 20 minutes.

You’ll understand that Chiropractic is NOT just about back pain; it is about human potential, especially with kids. Abraham dropped out of the sixth grade, and began College of Marin at the age of 11. Went on to Cal Tech in Pasadena, where he graduated, with honors, at 17. Ph.D. in theoretical physics at 22. He spent some years at the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany, and he’s currently a professor in Dublin (Ireland, not the one in the East Bay).*

CURE?

That’s right. I do not cure. The first words that I heard in chiropractic college were: “The only thing Man ever cured was a ham.” Drugs don’t cure. They cover up, or just control the symptoms. Surgery? Does cutting out parts make you healthier? Does it address the CAUSE… why you got sick and/or in pain?

In my case (and in the case of so many who’ve come to me and been helped tremendously), would fusing together parts of the spine, that are supposed to move, along with permanently compressing and/or distorting delicate nerve tissue, cure me? Just look at the record! It’s so bad that they have a term for what happens: “Failed back surgery syndrome.” Often, people who’ve had one spinal operation get another, and another.

HOW IT WORKS, or not?

You’ve probably been to one or more chiropractors who don’t understand what you’re already beginning to understand right now. They are, sadly, “playing doctor.” They’re just TREATING your back or neck pain, attempting to CURE you. They don’t get that Chiropractic is totally separate and distinct from Medicine, nor do they get the true role of the nervous system, as your “master system.” So, they throw all kinds of gimmicks at you… electrical stimulation, cold laser, those crazyexpensive disk decompression treatments, (the latest scam is “stem cell therapy”) while they work under the very medical (nothing to do with chiropractic) guidelines of insurance companies. How can you possibly get well, when all you’re getting is third-rate medical care from a chiropractor?

The plain truth is that I don’t treat anyone of anything… not even backaches. I certainly don’t cure anyone. THAT would be biologically ridiculous. Yet, people get well here… people, like you, who have suffered for a long time, sometimes terribly. (Not just pain issues. We’re talking your nervous system, which runs every system, organ, tissue and cell in your body! As a REAL chiropractor, I correct interference to this system, which allows your body, on all levels, to function better.)

Sure, people come to me with sciatica, and stiff necks. But they come also the more serious issues like neuropathy, stenosis, herniated disks, spinal arthritis, even with damage from spinal surgeries. And they come with issues outside the spine, including “bone-on-bone” hips and knees, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff, carpal tunnel, and TMJ problems. And they come with non mus cu lo skeletal issues… urinary frequency and control, insomnia, IBS, poorly controlled diabetes or blood pressure, depression, vertigo, heart and circulatory conditions, migraines, chronic fatigue, just to name a few.

Your medical specialists are just managing your conditions. Your previous chiropractors tried to treat your pain. REAL chiropractors get to the CAUSE. (The CAUSE is not to be confused with your diagnosis.) Here’s some biological fact. Your body is self-regulating and self-healing. Every part… every cell, tissue, organ and system… is controlled and coordinated by your brain and nervous system. It is a complicated and delicate system. When vertebrae in the spine become misaligned, whether there’s pain or not, whether it happened last week or 50 years ago, that control and coordination is compromised… interfered with. No drug will ever fix this interference. (Spinal surgery will make the interference far worse.) Gentle, specific chiropractic adjustment (NOT crude manipulation) will correct it.

Chiropractic adjustment is not a treatment. It corrects CAUSE, allowing your body to heal, naturally. It’s as simple as that! “I will help you.”

People, like you, come to me from San Francisco, and south:

“Left leg not dragging. Walking better.” – Patricia Haynes, San Francisco

“I have been seeing him for several months now, and for the first time I was able to walk without a cane. My husband noticed right away. I am noticing Improvements in my energy levels. There is less pain on my body. He checks you every 12 sessions, and has high tech instruments to watch your progress. He has a funny sense of humor, and really cares for his patients. The x-rays are proof of where your body is misaligned. I am glad to see a doctor that understands my condition.” – Janet Louie, San Francisco

“I’ve had treatments from other Chiropractors before meeting Dr. Harte and none of them took the time to fully diagnose my problems. Dr. Harte uses the latest scanning tools and gives you a complete picture of your problems. I was surprised that I had more problems than I thought. I’ve come to realize that no one can ‘cure’ another person. The best they can do, is to prepare your body to heal itself. Each one of us has to find what is best for the quality of life we want, and cost should not be the determining factor. Einstein said that lunacy is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome. The sooner we discover the purpose of Chiropractic is to facilitate our bodies to cure themselves, the sooner we can attain perfect health. I am grateful for finding Dr. Harte who is dedicated to helping as many as possible to achieve their perfect health” - Alvin Huie, San Francisco

“The first time I met Dr. Don Harte, he immediately made me feel comfortable and found a way to make me laugh. easer with My less visits pain. for adjustments Due to unforeseen assisted circumstances with my moving I am moving away from the Bay area. Needless to say, how much I shall miss this dear gentle, caring person. We not only parted as good friends, but he gave me a list for me to use as a guide to choose my next Chiropractor. He is truly a champion, not only with his MIDAS fingers, but his profound concern for the human race as a whole. Blessings, my dear friend, may you continue doing what you do best!!!” - Zonia Donovan, Daly City

Here’s people from the East Bay who come to see me:

“He’s the most sensible and enlightened chiropractor I’ve ever known. His results are sometimes instant, but improvement overall is my experience - this after years of cortisone shots in my lower spine and that area only one of many being addressed by Dr. Harte. I’m sleeping better and have more energy and less pain.” – Louise Bilter, Lafayette

“I have been seeing Dr. Harte for over 25 years since first moving to California in 1995. I was in a tremendous amount of pain after years of high school football, college lacrosse and working as a carpenter. I had been to several orthopedic doctors and surgeons, had several MRIs, x-rays and other tests. Been drugged in the ER several times with anti-spasmodic injections that made me feel awful. I started going to him a few times a week. After about a month, I felt like a new man. My back pain literally disappeared. He also adjusted my jaw which was dislocated from years of teeth grinding, adjusted my wrist which was painful from carpel tunnel syndrome, my knees, my feet, and my elbows. 25 years later, I still go to Dr. Harte regularly. I live in Berkeley and tried for a few years to find a chiropractor who was closer to home, but gave up after a while. His chiropractic approach (which I like to dub “The Harte Method”) is very unique, very effective and painless. He truly loves his work. Since my first session 25 years ago, I’ve engaged in extreme sports (big wall climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking etc.) and have endured some pretty horrific injuries. Dr. Harte has always kept me “in the game” so to speak. I’m about to turn 50, and still doing the things that I love to do. I rarely if ever go to a medical doctor.” – George Schevon, Berkeley

“Best chiropractor I’ve been to. Dr. Harte is by far the BEST chiropractor and I now drive 3 hours round-trip to see him once a week. He is direct, passionate and a former New Yorker. If you want a cheap adjustment and no results he’s not your guy. If you value your health enough to spend the money for someone who has legitimately MASTERED their craft this is the guy for you.” – Giovanni Migic, Concord

From Sonoma:

“Dr. Harte has renewed my faith that there is still great Chiropractic in our world. I believe that my body will heal itself with the help of Dr. Harte.” - John Cunningham, Petaluma

“I have been an allergy sufferer all my life. Every Spring I have needed drugs to help alleviate the misery of hay fever, but they never worked completely. Now, thanks to the chiropractic care I have gone through an entire season with no symptoms, no drugs. Thanks to chiropractic care I am allergy-free!” - Mark Favell, Sonoma

“If you want true Chiropractic by a gentler touch; Dr. Harte removes subluxations that block healing. This is the man and place to come where the rubber of truth hits the road on the way toward healing thyself by your own innate intelligence.” – Bert Buss, Sebastopol

And from Marin, of course…

“Probably the most devoted and knowledgeable chiropractor around.” – Kanya Hart, San Anselmo “I am happier because I feel my life is getting better and better- physically, mentally and socially. I have a better attitude. I have better flexibility in my neck.” – Claudia Giuliani, Mill Valley

There must be a reason why people, like you, pass by 100, 200 chiropractic offices to come here, regularly. If you’re serious about regaining your health, and keeping your health, this is the place!

So, who am I? I am Dr. Harte (D.C.). I’ve been serving Marin and the entire Bay Area since 1981. I was honored as “Chiropractor of the Year” by the World Chiropractic Alliance in 2006, and I served on their board, as well as the board of the Council on Chiropractic Practice. I’ve spoken at Life West Chiropractic College in Hayward and Sherman Chiropractic College in South Carolina. I’ve had articles published in the Chiropractic Journal, the Journal of the California Chiropractic Association, OMNI Magazine, North Bay Biz, Marin IJ and the SF Chronicle.

Over almost four decades, I have formulated my own chiropractic technique, the Harte Method, which is a combination of Directional Non-Force Technique, Upper Cervical Specific, Applied Kinesiology, Logan Basic and Columbia, with my own analytical and adjustive refinements. I adjust “by hand only,” as, in my opinion, Chiropractic should be.

Because I owe my life, quite literally, to Chiropractic (not just for saving me from that multi-level spinal fusion), I take what I do for you very seriously. I am responsible to you, not some insurance company. If you qualify to become a Member of my practice, THE HARTE OF CHIROPRACTIC, I will work harder for you than any doctor of any kind.

My AMAZING OFFER: (I do mean “Amazing.” Even the regular fee, $770, is crazy-cheap for the value you’ll receive.) Call me by Thursday, Aug. 8th, and you’ll get my examination, three (3) neurological scans, X-rays, and Report of Findings, for only $170. 415/460-6527. You get to save $600!

I am at 21 Tamal Vista in Corte Madera, 5 minutes from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and 12 minutes from the Golden Gate. My office is warm and friendly. I’m open most evenings until 7. You can call me with any questions. 460-6527.

PS: Worse off from one or more spinal surgeries? Thinking your answer isn’t more surgery and more drugs? Good! But most chiropractors wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole. They don’t have the skills. But I do, with my gentle, very specific, very effective techniques. Call me.

PPS: There’s a lot of prejudice and ill will against Chiropractic and chiropractors. Some is due to the extreme, and, ultimately unscientific view that the M.D. is always right. (Look at the record. Look at YOUR record.) But a lot of it is deserved; it is due to far too many chiropractors being over-casual, under-scientific, and, in general, not delivering the real thing. I can guarantee you that real Chiropractic is worlds apart. The bottom line here, at THE HARTE OF CHIROPRACTIC, is liberating your brain and nervous system, allowing your body to heal, to function at a higher level.

* It seems that there are “comedians” on staff at the chiropractic board, who think that you will think that, if you bring your child here, he or she will be guaranteed to get a Ph.D. by 22. I am supposed to tell you not to expect that.